Thousands of Dutch face up to three years’ delays for higher-capacity grid connections
A sharp rise in requests for higher-capacity electricity connections and a reported grid “closure” in parts of Utrecht are straining the Dutch power network, with about 7,300 households now on waiting lists and some facing delays of up to three years for upgrades, De Telegraaf reports.
Grid operator Liander reported 27,500 household applications for higher-capacity grid connections in the first five months of 2026, up more than 50 percent from 18,000 in the same period a year earlier. Requests for new household connections rose 30 percent.
At the same time, Stedin said parts of Utrecht’s electricity network were effectively “closed" for new capacity for an indefinite period, following the introduction of tighter limits on available grid space.
Liander has now placed roughly 7,300 households on a waiting list for the first time. Some applicants may wait up to three years before receiving a new or upgraded connection, according to reports. The increase is largely driven by households installing heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, and other electrified home systems that require more grid capacity.
“Where earlier businesses were dealing with waiting times, households are now also being affected. That was unavoidable,” said Sarike van Wette, Liander’s executive responsible for grid operations. She said residential users are now feeling the consequences of congestion after business customers were affected first.
Liander, which operates in Gelderland, Noord-Holland, Friesland, Flevoland, and parts of Zuid-Holland, said it has warned since 2023 that neighborhood electricity networks are reaching their limits, with the number of households waiting continuing to rise.
The impact will vary by region depending on local grid conditions, meaning some households may still be connected in a timely manner while others face delays.
Liander also stressed that not all homes require a higher-capacity three-phase connection. It said smaller hybrid heat pumps combined with solar panels can often operate on existing single-phase connections.
“We also offer a decision tool that shows what is possible within an existing connection,” Van Wette said, urging households to consult installers before requesting upgrades. “We want to prevent customers from making major renovation and sustainability plans only to find that the electricity supply takes longer. We want to avoid disappointment.”
